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Datolite

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Dal'negorsk (Dalnegorsk; Tjetjuche; Tetjuche), Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Region, Russia
© 2001 John H. Betts

Show Datolite Photos (219)
Formula:
CaB[OH|SiO
 
4
]
System:MonoclinicColour:White, greyish, pale ...
Lustre:Vitreous, ResinousHardness:5 - 5½
Name:From the Greek for to divide in reference to granular textute of massive varieties.


Gadolinite-Datolite Group. (See also Anchi-Zeolite)

Classification of Datolite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.29-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AJ.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
J : Nesosilicates with BO3 triangles and/or B[4], Be[4] tetrahedra, cornersharing with SiO4
Dana 8th edition ID:54.2.1a.1

54 : NESOSILICATES Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates
2 : Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates with B in [4] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.5.10

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
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Type Occurrence of Datolite

Type Locality:Arendal, Aust-Agder, Norway
Year of Discovery:1806

Occurrences of Datolite

Geological Setting:Secondary mineral in mafic igneous rocks. Geodes in tuff, limestone skarns, serpentinites, schists, ore veins.

Physical Properties of Datolite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:White, greyish, pale green, red, yellow, etc.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 5½
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.96 - 3 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3 g/cm3

Crystallography of Datolite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b (P1 1 21/b) [P21/c] {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 9.62Å, b = 7.6Å, c = 4.84Å
β = 90.15°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.266 : 1 : 0.637
Unit Cell Volume:V 353.86 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Short prismatic, botyroidal, granular to compact, cryptocrystalline.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Datolite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.626 nβ = 1.653 - 1.654 nγ = 1.670
2V:Measured: 74° , Calculated: 72° to 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.044

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:weak r > v

Chemical Properties of Datolite

Formula:
CaB[OH|SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:B, Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:B, Ca, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Mn,Mg,Al,Fe

Relationship of Datolite to other Species

Related to:
  • Gadolinite-Datolite Group
    • Common Associates:
    Zeolite GroupPrehniteGarnet GroupDanburiteCalcite
    Axinite
    Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    9.AJ.05Grandidierite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		[O
     
    2
    		|BO
     
    3
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AJ.05Ominelite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		[O
     
    2
    		|BO
     
    3
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AJ.10Dumortierite
    (Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    7
    		[O
     
    3
    		|BO
     
    3
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.AJ.10Holtite
    (Ta,Sb)Al
     
    6
    		[O
     
    3
    		|BO
     
    3
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.AJ.10Magnesiodumortierite
    (Mg,Ti,[](Al,Mg)
     
    2
    		Al
     
    4
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    18-y
    		(OH)
     
    y
    		B y = 2-3
    9.AJ.15Garrelsite
    Ba
     
    3
    		NaSi
     
    2
    		B
     
    7
    		O
     
    16
    		(OH)
     
    4
    9.AJ.20Bakerite
    Ca
     
    4
    		B
     
    4
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|HBO
     
    4
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.AJ.20Gadolinite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La,Nd,Y)
     
    2
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		Be
     
    2
    		[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    9.AJ.20Gadolinite-(Y)
    Y
     
    2
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		Be
     
    2
    		[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    9.AJ.20Hingganite-(Ce)
    Ce
     
    2
    		□Be
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		(OH)
     
    2
    9.AJ.20Hingganite-(Y)
    (Y,Yb,Er)Be[OH|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AJ.20Hingganite-(Yb)
    (Yb,Y)Be[OH|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    9.AJ.20Homilite
    Ca
     
    2
    		(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)B
     
    2
    		[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    9.AJ.20Melanocerite-(Ce)
    (Ce,Ca)
     
    5
    		(Si,B)
     
    3
    		O
     
    12
    		(OH,F)·nH
     
    2
    		O
    9.AJ.20Minasgeraisite-(Y)
    Y
     
    2
    		CaBe
     
    2
    		[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    9.AJ.20Calcybeborosilite-(Y)
    (Y,Ca)
     
    2
    		(B,Be)
     
    2
    		[SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		(OH,O)
     
    2
    9.AJ.25Stillwellite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La,Ca)BSiO
     
    5
    9.AJ.30Cappelenite-(Y)
    Ba(Y,Ce)
     
    6
    		Si
     
    3
    		B
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		F
     
    2
    9.AJ.35Okanoganite-(Y)
    (Na,Ca)
     
    3
    		(Y,Ce)
     
    12
    		Si
     
    6
    		B
     
    2
    		O
     
    27
    		F
     
    14
    9.AJ.35Vicanite-(Ce)
    (Ca,Ce,La,Th)
     
    15
    		As
    5+
     
    		(As
    3+
    0.5
    		,Na
     
    0.5
    		)Fe
    3+
     
    		Si
     
    6
    		B
     
    4
    		O
     
    40
    		F
     
    7
    9.AJ.35Hundholmenite-(Y)
    (Y,REE,Ca,Na)
     
    15
    		(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)(Ca
     
    x
    		As
    3+
    1-x
    		)(Si,As
    5+
     
    		)Si
     
    6
    		B
     
    3
    		(O,F)
     
    48
    9.AJ.35Proshchenkoite-(Y)
    (Y,REE,Ca,Na,Mn)
     
    15
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		Ca(P,Si)Si
     
    6
    		B
     
    3
    		O
     
    34
    		F
     
    14
    9.AJ.40Jadarite
    LiNaSiB
     
    3
    		O
     
    7
    		(OH)
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    17.5.1Manandonite
    LiAl
     
    4
    		Si
     
    3
    		BO
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    6
    17.5.2Reedmergnerite
    Na[BSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    17.5.3Searlesite
    NaBSi
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		(OH)
     
    2
    17.5.4Olenite
    (Na,[ ])[(Al,Li)
     
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(O,OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.5Elbaite
    [Na][(Li,Al)
     
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.6Kalborsite
    K
     
    6
    		[Cl|B(OH)
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    4
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    20
    		]
    17.5.7Boromuscovite
    KAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|BSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    17.5.8Poudretteite
    KNa
     
    2
    		B
     
    3
    		Si
     
    12
    		O
     
    30
    17.5.9Liddicoatite
    [Ca][Li
     
    2
    		Al][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|F|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.11Danburite
    CaB
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    17.5.12Howlite
    Ca
     
    2
    		B
     
    5
    		SiO
     
    9
    		(OH)
     
    5
    17.5.13Bakerite
    Ca
     
    4
    		B
     
    4
    		[(OH)
     
    4
    		|HBO
     
    4
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    17.5.14Oyelite
    Ca
     
    10
    		Si
     
    8
    		B
     
    2
    		O
     
    29
    		·12.5H
     
    2
    		O
    17.5.15Kornerupine
    Mg
     
    3
    		Al
     
    6
    		(Si,Al,B)
     
    5
    		O
     
    21
    		(OH)
    17.5.16Harkerite
    Ca
     
    24
    		Mg
     
    8
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		(O,OH)
     
    32
    		(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    8
    		(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    8
    		(H
     
    2
    		O,Cl)
    17.5.17Serendibite
    (Ca,Na)
     
    2
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		[O
     
    2
    		|(Si,Al,B)
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.18Stillwellite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La,Ca)BSiO
     
    5
    17.5.19Tadzhikite-(Ce)
    (Ca,Ce)
     
    4
    		(Ca,Y)
     
    2
    		(Ti
    4+
     
    		,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Al)[B
     
    4
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    22
    		(O,OH)
     
    6
    		](OH)
     
    2
    17.5.20Melanocerite-(Ce)
    (Ce,Ca)
     
    5
    		(Si,B)
     
    3
    		O
     
    12
    		(OH,F)·nH
     
    2
    		O
    17.5.21Okanoganite-(Y)
    (Na,Ca)
     
    3
    		(Y,Ce)
     
    12
    		Si
     
    6
    		B
     
    2
    		O
     
    27
    		F
     
    14
    17.5.22Tritomite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La,Y,Th)
     
    5
    		(Si,B)
     
    3
    		(O,OH,F)
     
    13
    17.5.23Tritomite-(Y)
    (Y,Ca,La,Fe)
     
    5
    		(Si,B,Al)
     
    3
    		(O,OH,F)
     
    13
    17.5.24Cappelenite-(Y)
    Ba(Y,Ce)
     
    6
    		Si
     
    3
    		B
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		F
     
    2
    17.5.25Dumortierite
    (Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    7
    		[O
     
    3
    		|BO
     
    3
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    17.5.26Holtite
    (Ta,Sb)Al
     
    6
    		[O
     
    3
    		|BO
     
    3
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    17.5.27Dravite
    [Na][Mg
     
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.28 Ferridravite
    17.5.29Axinite-(Mg)
    Ca
     
    2
    		MgAl
     
    2
    		[OH|BSi
     
    4
    		O
     
    15
    		]
    17.5.30Uvite
    [Ca][(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		][MgAl
     
    5
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.31Garrelsite
    Ba
     
    3
    		NaSi
     
    2
    		B
     
    7
    		O
     
    16
    		(OH)
     
    4
    17.5.32Tienshanite
    Na
     
    2
    		BaMnTiB
     
    2
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    20
    17.5.33Leucosphenite
    BaNa
     
    4
    		Ti
     
    2
    		B
     
    2
    		Si
     
    10
    		O
     
    30
    17.5.34Taramellite
    Ba
     
    4
    		(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Ti,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    4
    		(B
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    27
    		)O
     
    2
    		Cl
     
    x
    17.5.35Titantaramellite
    Ba
     
    4
    		(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    4
    		(B
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    27
    		)O
     
    2
    		Cl
     
    x
    17.5.36Nagashimalite
    Ba
     
    4
    		(V,Ti)
     
    4
    		B
     
    2
    		Si
     
    8
    		O
     
    27
    		(O,OH)
     
    2
    		Cl
    17.5.37Chromdravite
    [Na][Mg
     
    3
    		][(Cr
    3+
     
    		,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.38Wawayandaite
    Ca
     
    6
    		Mn
     
    2
    		BBe
     
    9
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    23
    		(OH,Cl)
     
    15
    17.5.39Werdingite
    (Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    		Al
     
    14
    		Si
     
    4
    		B
     
    4
    		O
     
    37
    17.5.40Axinite-(Mn)
    Ca
     
    2
    		Mn
    2+
     
    		Al
     
    2
    		[OH|BSi
     
    4
    		O
     
    15
    		]
    17.5.41Axinite
    (Ca,Mn)
     
    2
    		(Fe,Mn,Mg)Al
     
    2
    		BSi
     
    4
    		O
     
    15
    		OH
    17.5.42Tinzenite
    (Ca,Mn
    2+
     
    		,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		Al
     
    2
    		[OH|BSi
     
    4
    		O
     
    15
    		]
    17.5.44Schorl
    [Na][Fe
    2+
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.45Buergerite
    [Na][Fe
    3+
    3
    		][Al
     
    6
    		][O
     
    3
    		|F|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.46Feruvite
    [Ca][(Fe
    2+
     
    		 ,Mg)
     
    3
    		][MgAl
     
    5
    		][(OH)
     
    3
    		|OH|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    17.5.47Axinite-(Fe)
    Ca
     
    2
    		Fe
    2+
     
    		Al
     
    2
    		[OH|BSi
     
    4
    		O
     
    15
    		]
    17.5.48Homilite
    Ca
     
    2
    		(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)B
     
    2
    		[O|SiO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    17.5.49Grandidierite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		[O
     
    2
    		|BO
     
    3
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		]
    17.5.50Hyalotekite
    (Ba,Pb,Ca,K)
     
    6
    		(B,Si,Al)
     
    2
    		(Si,Be)
     
    10
    		O
     
    28
    		(F,Cl)
    17.5.51Hellandite-(Y)
    (Ca,Y)
     
    6
    		(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)Si
     
    4
    		B
     
    4
    		O
     
    20
    		(OH)
     
    4

    Other Names for Datolite

    Synonyms:
    DatholiteDystome Spar
    Other Languages:
    Dutch:Datoliet
    German:Datolith
    Datolit
    Italian:Datolite
    Lithuanian:Datolitas
    Russian:Датолит
    Spanish:Datolita
    Swedish:Datolit
    Varieties:
    Botryolite

    Other Information

    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

    References for Datolite

    Reference List:Klaproth, M.H. (1807): Chemische Untersuchung des Datoliths, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Vierter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 354-359

    Anderson, C. (1906) Mineralogical Notes: No. III - Axinite, petterdite, crocoite, datolite. Records of the Australian Museum: 6(3), 133-144.

    American Mineralogist (1973): 58: 909-914.

    Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

    Bellatreccia, F., Cámara, F., Della Ventura, G. (2006): Datolite: a new occurrence in volcanic ejecta (Pitigliano, Toscana, Italy) and crystal-structure refinement. Rendiconti dell'Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Scienze Fisiche e Naturali, Serie 9, 17, 289-298.

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    Localities for Datolite

    Show Locality List (394 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.